This week PrecisionHawk is participating in NASA UTM Level 2 test to demonstrate airspace management software to support beyond visual line-of-sight operations and line-of-sight operations. This test will highlight functionality to alert and inform airspace users of potential hazards and conflicting operations that may impact their operations. Approximately 12 partners will fly vehicles in plausible UAS operational scenarios.

During the test drone pilots will fly up to five concurrent operations, two beyond visual line-of-sight and three within visual line-of-sight. Overall safety of operations is critical. Visual observers will watch the aircraft and airspace to ensure the vehicle is on the appropriate flight path and will not interfere with manned aircraft in the area. The visual observer will have direct communication with the pilot in command. Because visual observers are watching the flights, the FAA does not consider this a BVLOS operation. For the purposes of this test both the UAS and the UTM research platform are oblivious to the presence of the visual observers, and technically operate beyond visual line of sight with visual observers role is intervene only if safety is likely to be compromised.

PrecisionHawk will fly its Lancaster UAV during the BVLOS flight. PrecisionHawk was the first company to receive a waiver from the FAA to fly BVLOS for its commercial operations. The Lancaster will be equipped with LATAS situational awareness technology, which is being used so the drone can actively and automatically communicate with the UTM system in the event of unmanned traffic or obstacles in the airspace.

“Given PrecisionHawk’s research and experience with BVLOS flight, we are pleased to continue working with NASA to provide technology that can serve as a foundation for quality data transfer between UAVs and a UTM system. The LATAS platform is a natural fit with the UTM concept, providing situational awareness for expanded operations, in this case, as several drones operate simultaneously but also as the concept expands to include manned aircraft,” said Allison Ferguson, director of airspace research at PrecisionHawk. “In an effort to move the industry forward, PrecisionHawk is also working to incorporate the NASA UTM functionality directly into its LATAS platform to help define a safe, new era of aviation, which will rely on innovative collaboration.”